Engine-starting apparatus



May 6, 1930. ...a DYER 1,757,238

ENGINE STARTING APPARATUS Filed Jim1-11, 1928 s sheets-sheet 1 May 6, 1930.` J. B. DYER 1,757,238

ENGINE STARTING APPARATUS Filed Jem` l1, 1928 3 Sheets-.Sheet 2 I jf/ ym/ May 6, 1930. J. B. DYER 1,757,238

ENGINE STARTING APPARATUS i, A

Filed Jan. 11. 192e s sheets-sheet s Patented May 6, 1930 UNI-TED STATES.

PATENT JOHN is. DYER, on ANDERSON, 1NnIANA,AssIGNoR To ynnLoo-'Itrari-Y oo'RPonAaIoN, or

DAYTON, OHIO, A oonis'ona'rion ion DELAWARE Y ENGINE-STARTIG APPARATUS npplicatoniled January 11, 1928. Serial INo. 2455886.

This invention relates to `engine starting apparatus ,and particularly to 'the type .of

apparatus which comprises a shaft driven, by an electric motor .and connectible with the gearof an engine to bestarted 'by meansincluding apinion and provisions wherebythe pinion will be automatically demeshe'd from the engine gear when the engine becomes selfoperative. A

One of the objects of the-present invention is to provide for substantially meshing the pinion withthe engine gear 'beforethe electric motor is operated in order to minimize the liability of `breaking gear teeth. In the present invention, this object is accomplished by providing a sleeve whichslides along the shaft andis Vconnectedwith a helically splined portion ,thereof so'that .the` sleeve willV be caused to rotate relative to the shaft as it is moved longitudinally. The pinion also slides valong the shaftfand is connected with the' sleeve by longitudinal splines..V Hence, if jthe ends ofthe pinion teeth abut the ends of the engine gear teeth before meshing takes place, longitudinal motion ofthe sleeve willfpjro-v duce rotation of the pinion into meshing registration with the engine gear. The sle'eve is moved `long 'itudinallyjbya-manually operated actuator which 7is automatically x dis-,- connected from the sleeve vbefore the engine Y becomes self-operative in order that the pinion and sleeve will befree to'move away from 'the engine gear, the instant the engine becomes` selfoperative and regardless of whether the operator fails to relea'se-thesleeve Preferably, the sleeve actuator isf.

actuator. automaticallyy disconnected from the sleeve during the engine cranking operation@` Further objects ,and advantages ofithe present invention will heapparent fnoni the following description, reference being hadv` to the vacc ompa-nying drawings, wherein .a

preferred form of VeniboCliment of the present invention is clearly shown. Y

In the drawings i ;V Fig, l is a fragmentary longlm-dinaLlsectional View of an engine -starting apparatus embodying the present invention and showing the .apparatus Siri normal Condition .when 1 the pinion is demeshed from theenginegear.

Fig.' 2 is@ View similari@ Fig. ifshowng the apparatus Vat the instant the pinionfis in meshing registration' 'withgthe engine Vgealr.

n aview ofthe apparatus-showing v the pinion meshed with thefengine gearand the Amotorswitch open.

Fig. 4L is a fragmentary cross'sectional view ont'lieline ofFig. l; 4 p p i Y Fig; 5 is aifragmentary sectional View` on' -ceA the line 5 5 of Fig. l. Fig 6 is a, fragmentary sectional view on theline 6%-6 ofFig.`-7. *n `F'gf7 is a longitudinal sectional View of the engine starting apparatus in! condition for cranking theengine.

Fig. 8 1s a vlewjsimilar .to Fig,

7, showing:

the condition of the ,apparatus afterthe engine becomes' self-operative and before the operator releases the pedal operated `mechanism which controls the apparatus.

The yengine starting apparatus'comprisesv a motor driven shaft 2() supportingthegmotor 'v frame Q22 which is attachedto a mounting `armature v21 4which revolves within a field vbracket alldligearV liousingQ- which is adapted f 5 y A" .to be secured .tothe flywheel gear'housingr of the engine to be started; Theleft-hand end thellhub 26 of :ashifferksleeve Q'isSlilablG, ,the hiib 2 6-having internal helical' splines 28 v3c@operating with the splinesof the shaft.

In this waythe shaft and shiterfsleevea-re ,fdrivfiiig'ly-connectedanltheshfter Sleeve iS .caused torotateas it moves en dwfise lalong the vv`shaft 2O.n A- pinion 130j lis movable along the e@i i shaftinto meshwith a'gear B lfCOllted with i the ,enigme to )be Started. iPinin .sois @Qnnular iange" 33 ofthesleeve( ,spring 34 ,lOCaeCl Wthinthe Sleeve/ 27, and pressingat one end Vagafilgist the sleeve and, at theffother .,nectedwiththe sleeve 27 by providing .the I. a pinion with splines ,32 which are received by suitablenotches provided in thegvinternal-any the'nor'mal rela-tion of the sleeveA andV pinion,

While the engine gear' 31 is being driven by the pinion 30` as shown 'in Fig. 7, the shifter sleeve 27 will be thrust against the pinion 30 owing to the helicalsplined connect-ionvbetween the shaft 2O and the sleeve. The end thrust of the pinion is delivered to the shaft througha wire split ring 37 Vwhich is received'byv a groove 381in the shaft 20... The

end thrust'ofthe shaft`20 is delivered' to the frame23 byproviding the shaft with a/shoul-l der 39 which abuts ai collar 40 whichis in 'en-Y f gagement with a plane surface 41 provided bythe frame 23. l i t.

The mechanism for sleevegand pinion endwise towardthe engine gear comprises a pedal .50 whichpext'ends throughthe lfioorboard5l;v Vof Y an automobile and is connected with a lever 52 pivoted upon a screw 53 attached ,tofthe frame 23. ,The

`lever V52 ,carries an extensionV 54 located' in: the path of movement-ofthe head 55, of aY plunger 56. spring57 which is -located within ,a recess 58 of the;frame 23, and which Asurrounds the plunger7.576,1-urges the head ragainst. the klever extension 54 1n yorderk tourge the lever 52 intofnormal posit-ion,

shownin 1Fig., 1, in which va lug 59 of the l l order to producethis movement. By con tinuing to press the pedal 150 the operator will,y f i 'cause the stud 7 1` to engage the switch actua- .tor 72'in order to close the motor4 switch;

lever engages` a portion ofthe framel23. The boltt53 pivotallysupport-s alever 60 insuch a fmanner that thelever (SO-mayalso move laterally into an inclined'position 60?V shown inFigs. 4 and 6. -The Vlever 60l carries at its lower end a sleeve actuating member orroller 61 which is adaptedtobereceived by grooves 62 which-are locatedbetween spiral ridges 63`V provided i'n the endy .face 64 ofthe sleeve 27.

The'le'ver'60 is provided atjitsupper-end with f alug 65 which is received `byfa-slot66 in the lever5`2. At coil spring 67 located around the screw 53', l1a`s.an` end-V68 bearing against the i screw 53 andoneside of the lever 605 as shown lever 60' andfanzend 69 received by holes 70 inthe'lever152. The spring 67is biased in a manner such as to urge the lever 60 counterclockwise relative to the lever 5 so that normally as shown in Fig. 1,@the'lug 65'bears against the left-hand lend ofthe surfaceof thelever 52 V which defines 'the .slot166. The turns of the spring 67are'spacedand when the :spring is located .between the head ofthe invFig. 4, the springlwill bein a state of compress'QH in order to'furg'elthel lever 60 si'del `wise againstv the lever. 52 g if* v .l

The lever 52 carries stud 71 adapted 'to engagev the plunger or' actuator 72 of a switch for'rcontrollingthe motor( which drives the 1,757,238 f y.. *i .Je

shaft 20. The switch is located within a case e i 73 attached by screws 74 to the motor frame 22. A spring 75 located between the actuator 72 and the case 73 tends to hold the actuator in switchopen'position. 1 Y

vThe operation4 of the vinvention is as follows: n .l t

To Vstart the engine the operator presses the pedal 50 in order to cause the pinion to move s endwise movement ofthe sleeve 27ftoward the; I

engine .gearjf As thesleeve moves it will rotaterelativeto the shaft 25and will turn the f' pinionsufiiciently to causeits teeth to bello-v.

cated in alignment :with the toothspaces. of,

theengine gear. V.The"condition of theenf-ju; gine starting apparatus at thejinstantthe.

pinion'has been broughtinto meshing. regisff y 4tration withsthe engine gear is shown in Fig.

2. Vvl It willbenoted lthatthe sleeve-hasbeen..

spring`34 has VbeenV compressed. The direcf,v

moved relative tothepinionand thatthef" tion'jof rotationY of the sleeve relative .tof the;

Hence there is nostendency for-,the lever 60 to `l movelaterally awayfromthe sleeve After gear meshing registration ofthe fromrthe ip osition shown in Fig.|2 to that Vionvhasbeen effected,thepini0nwi1l move 100.

shown in Fig. 3, the springv 34expanding inY l Then the shaft 20will rotate inl order to move for closing the motor switch,and the latter portionofthe movement 'of the sleeve is effected by the roperationmof themotor: During the cranking of the engine byv the motor,

the sleeve 27 will remainin theposition showinv '1in Figi 7 and will maintain the spring 34 com-H pressed independently ofany ationproduced Y vby thezlever 60. Therefore the present invention'provides fordisconnectingi'the lever 12o 60 from the sleeve 27fdu`ringthe enginecrank- Ying operationso that the instant-'the engine# becomes self-operative, the pinionmay be demeshed regardless offthe-locationlof the lever .I

60and 'the sleeve actuatingfroller 61.71 This'.

automaticdisconnectionr iseected bythe co1#V i foperation'of thehelically arrangedyridges 63 l andthe roller 61. *The direction rofrotation offthe shaft 20 duringengine cranking. is l l countercl'oclrwise as viewedin Figs.AV 5 and 6,' i

Hence,`one of the `rid-ges 63 will cam the roller 6l from :the vposition shown in Fig. 5to ,thatA shown in Fig. ,6. Alfter the roller 61 has been cammed out tothe edgeof the face 64 ofthe sleeve27, the spring 67 will be released to change the relative location of the leversv 60 and 52 from `the .relation shown in Fig. 3.*to

thatshown in Fig. 7 .i `Therefore,-the roller 61 will be located alongside a cylindrical surface 80 of the sleeve 27 in lopposition to the pressure ofthe spring-67 .which is exerted air-` Y ially of the screw `555. AWhen the engine b.e

comes self-operative, the sleeve 2,7 and the` pinion will be moved from `the position shown in Fig. 8 regardlessof whether the operator has released the .pedal 50. Althoughv the roller 61 remains in the positions shown in Figs. 7 and 8, the sleeve27 is'free to move endvvise.4 During its movement fromL that position shown in Fig. 7 to that shown in Fig.

S its cylindrical side surfacewill be yieldingly engaged by theroller 61. This yielding en-A gagement may be effective in maintaining the sleeve iii normal position inporderl Vthat the' i pinion may not be remeshed with the engine gear although the motoricontinues to run. The remeshingof the pinion maybe alsohindered by providing -the sleeve with a groove 81 for receiving a plunger 82 which slides radially of the shaft `Withina sleeve83 threadedk into a sidewall of the frame 2321s shown in Figs. 2 and 8.' plug vSil rwhich closes one end of the sleeve `83 retains aspring 85`which urges the plunger 82 toward the shaft.

When thepedal is released, leversp52 and will `be'inoved Vdiie to the action of the spring 57 from theposition shownjinFig.- ,8,

to that shown in Fig. l. During the )c lo'clwise rotation of the lever 6 0,theroller I61. Awill slide along lthe cylindrical side of the sleeve 27 and will be urged bytlie .spring 6 7 f from the position shown inFig. 6 vto that shown in Fig. 5. Thustheroller .61v islocated f again for engagement with the end face .'64, of the sleeve'.` y d Y The accidental drifting `of the pinion intof mesh with the engine gear While the engine is running is hindered also by the Yen'gagement ofthe roller 61 with a flange provided by the sleeve 27. Y v o While theform of yembodiment of the presV ent invention as herein disclosed; constitutes .a preferred form, itis to be understood that other forms might be adopted, all coming. within the scope of the claims kwhich follow.l

A'Vliat is claimed is as follows;

1. Engine starting apparatus comprising, in combinationJ a motor; a shaft operated by the motor; a pinion movable longitudinalll 'of the shaft into mesh with an engine gear;

a rotatable shifter member movable c0-` aXially with said pinion; means for`driv' ingly connecting the shifterv member and pinion and permittingv relative movement aie i ially ofthe pinionbetween saidmeinbers;

means for so connecting the shifter member and shaft that movement of thekmember longitudinallyJof thel shaft. will keffect lrotation of the member; a spring for imparting move- Vment from the shifter member .to the pinion in a direction to mesh lthe pinion; a manaccording to v tatable lshifter member is operated in yre- 1 sponse tothe operation ofthe motor.

V3. Engine starting apparatus yaccording to claim 1 inlwhich the means which automatie cally disconnects the actuator from the rotatable "shifter member comprises a cam cars,v

ried` by the'rotatable shifter member and cooperating with a part moved bythe actuator longitudinally against the rotatable member and mounted so as to be moved by the cam laterally away from the Yreta'table member. 4. Engine starting apparatus comprising,

in'combination, a motor; a helicallyA splined shaft operated by .the motor; a shifter sleeve drivingly connected by said splines with the shaft; a-pinion slidableV alongtlie shaft into mesh with an engine gearfand drivingly coni nected with the .sleeve by means permitting..

endwise movementv of the sleeve relative vto the pinion; a spring for imparting movement `from the sleeve to .the pinion in a .direction lto'iriesh the pinion; amanually operableactuato'rlfor moving the sle'eve;and inea-ns for automatically :disconnecting` the actuator from the sleeve before the enginestarts.'V

. 5. VEngine starting apparatus .according to Yclaim 4 in which .the actuator is automatically f disconnected from the .sleeve 'by means responsiverto the operation .of the motor.`

6 Engine starting apparatusV according .to claim -4-:in'which Ythe sleeve .carries `a cam which cooperates with a follower element to rmove the samelaterafl-ly. away fromfthe sleeve ice when the motor operates,"the follower'element being lconnected with the actuator sol n, as` to move longitudinally of the shaft against the sleeve and being mounted s o as to permit movement laterally with respect to the sleeve'. Engine starting apparatus4 comprising,

in combination, a motor.; a'helically splined shaftdr'iven Vby the motor;an endwise.mov-. able androtatableishifter member engaging said splines; a'pinion adapted to nioveend- `wisein'to mesh with a gear of .an engine to be started;'driving "connections between' the k'pinion and shifter member providing limvited endwise movement `of the `pin-ion relative d to said member; manually operable means causing it to rotate; vand a spring vfor transmittingmeshing movement from said shifter member to the pinion in order to urgevthe I for moving said shifter member endwise and 1 pinion endwise toward the engine gear vwith yielding pressure. y i t H n 8. An engine starter-.drive comprising, in

combination a rotatable drivin@ member adaptedto move axiallyinto driving connection with Va member of an engine to be started; means including a manually oper.:

ated actuator and aspring for transmitting motion-from the actuator to'the driving meinber in order that the driving .member may be yieldingly urged against the engine mem- `bei' incase the driving member collides with the engine member before becomingfdrivingly coniiect-edvtherewith; gmeans cooperating' with Vthe* actuator for causing the driving.

member to rotate while being yieldingly i iressed a ainst the engine,V art' means for D 7 i v automatically disconnecting the actuator from the driving member before tlieengine starts; and means for automatically. disconnecting said 'members when the enginezstarts. 9. An engine starter vdrive comprising, in combination, 'a rotatabledrivingVV member adapted to move axially into driving connection with a lmember of an engine to `be'started; means including a manuallyoperated actuator and aspring for transmitting motion from the actuator tothe driving member in order that the driving member may be'yieldngly urged against .the engine member Lin case the driving member collides with the engine member before becoming `drivingly connected therewith; means cooperating withV the actuator for causing the driving" :nember to'rotate while being yieldingly disconnecting said members when kthe `engine combination, a rotatable drive shaftya' ro-H tatable drive-connecting-member adapted .to

be moved longitudinally of the shaft into driving connection Ywith apart of lanengine to be started; an intermediate drive .device lnovable longitudinally of the' shaft; means Y so connecting thejshaft anddevice thatrelby relative Vrotarymovemeiit; means connecting the drive-connectin'g-'member and inter-` mediate. device so as topermit relative longii tudinal movement betweenthem'; a spring lo-. cated between the-intermediatedrive device and `the drive-connecting-member for ynormally maintaining a vcertain normal lon-y gitudinal relation betweenxthe member and device; means having a manually operated actuator. formoving ther, intermediate device and .drive-connecting-inembertoward the engine partinorder to connect-said meinser and part; andfor causing .the intermediate drive device to rotatethe'drive-connecting-member whilethe.l latter is yieldingly' pressed against the' engine part; and means abledrive-connecting-member` adapted `to be F moved axially along the shaft into driving connection with 'af part of. an engine tof be started; an intermediate drive` sleeve movable axiallyalong! the' shaft, and having helical splinev connections with the shaft and straight longitudinal 'splineg v connections? with the member; Ya 'spring-located between the inter-y lmediate drive" device and -the drive-connecting member for norni'ally'maintaining a 'certainjnormalflongitudinal relation between themember and device ;meaiis havinga inanually operated actuator for moving the intermediate device and drive-connecting-memy bertowardjthe engine part inforderto connect said member and part; and means for automatically disconnecting the actuator; f 1

.12. Engine starting apparatus comprising, incombination, `a motor; a shaft driven thereby;means for connecting the shaft with the 1 gear of an engine tol be started and comprising a pinion movableendwise intorv mesh with the engine fgear and provisionslwhereby the pinion will be automatically demeshed when the .engine starts, said connecting means includingV an intermediate endwise' movable sh afty soconnected'with the motor shaft that endwise movement of 'thef intermediate shaft will Vproduce rotation thereof relative to the motor shaft-,and meansconnecting the intervmediate shaft-and pinionand providing for relative *longitudinal* movementk between them; a spring rotated between the'intermediate'sliaft and the pinion adapted to urge the pinion yieldingly against the gear; manually operated'means for rendering'the spring operative yieldinglyv to' press the 'pinion against the gear inca'sel offabutment before meshing, and for movingthe intermediate shaft endwise in order to rotate thepinion while :it is yieldingly 4pressed against the idc gear, said-manually operable means having van actuator; and means'for automatically disconnecting the actuator from the manually operated means before the engine startsf ative longitudinal movement is accompanied in such manner that relatively longitudinal .movementbetween the sleeve andshaft isaecompanied by relative rotary movement b etween them; driving connections between the 4sleeve and pinion providing forja limited amount-of relativelongitudinal movement i kbetween them, and transmitting tothe pinion n substantially only rotary motionvuntil the shaft into mesh with anengine gear; a pinion l shifter movable along the shaft and connectked with the shaft in such manner that endwise movement of the shifter is accompanied A by rotation thereof; lost motion connections between the shifter and pinion permitting limited longitudinal movement of the shifter relative to the pinion in case endwise `movement of the pinion is arrested, Vwhereby rotary motion only will be imparted by the shifter to the pinion'until the longitudinal lost motion is taken up ;-a spring for transmitting motion from the shifter endwise to the pinionrwhereby .the pinion will be yieldingly pressed against the engine gear Y while being rotated prior to meshing;'man

30 ually operable means for moving the shifter p er before the engine starts.

and including an actuator; automatic means for disconnecting theY actuator from the shifter Ybefore the engine-starts;` and automatic means for disconnecting the pinion fromthe gear when the engine starts.

15. Engine starting apparatus comprising, in combination, a motor; a pinion connected with the motor and movable axially into mesh witha gear of an engine to be started; a shifter movable axially of the pinion; la

spring transmitting a pinion-meshing movement from the shifter to the pinion; manual,

means for moving the shifter and causing it to turn; means transmitting rotary movement c from the shifter to the pinion while permitting relative longitudinal movement between` them; means causing the pinion to be automatically demeshed from the gear when the engine starts; and means automatically dis-` 0 connecting the manual means from the shiftalong said shaft/'into mesh with a gear of an engine to be started; a shifting sleeve en- -gaging the splines of said shaft and having an internal annular flange notched to receive longitudinal splines provided by the pinion;

a springv enclosed by the sleeve and located between the sleeve and pinion for holding them in extended relation; and manually operable means for moving the sleeve..l

In testimonywhereof I hereto yax vmy signature.

JOHN B. DYER.

16. Engine starting apparatus comprising,`

Y in combinatioma motor; a helically -splined shaft driven by the motor; apinion movable along said shaft into mesh'with a gear 'Y of an engine to be started; a shiftingsleeve v i engaging-the splines of said shaft and having a longitudinal spline connection with thev a pinion; a spring enclosed by the sleeve and holding them in extended vrelation and manually operable means for ymoving the sleeve.

17. VEngine starting apparatus comprising,

in combination, a motor; a helically 'splined located between the sleeve and pinionfor shaft driven by the motor; a pinion movable u 

